Hello

[TheStereoGuy]

New here, just found the forums today.

I don't actually live in Hattiesburg, I just work there. Hope to maybe move down that way, as the $20+ a day in gas I am spending driving from Laurel is killing me.

As my name implies, I am a stereo guy. I install these loud, obnoxious stereo systems in peoples cars that annoy you at every intersection in town, and late at night while you are trying to sleep.

I got into my line of work due to my hobby of Home Theater at the age of 16. After countless days of hanging out with the guys at Hoopers Audio and Video in Laurel, drooling over home stereo equipment, they eventually hired me on as a car stereo installer ( only position they had open at the time ) and trained me at that. I spend a year in Gulfport being a commission paid salesperson for the company before coming back to Laurel. I was store manager for a few short months before Katrina forced the closure of the store in Laurel for a while, at which time I found my new job.

I have experience doing Home Theater Install, as that is one of, if not, my primary hobby and building computers as well.

I am brutally honest about my opinion of sound equipment ( both home and car ), and idiots in the local industry who couldn't properly connect wires to a speaker, let alone attempt to do a whole installation. I cannot stand some people who will do in install for their customer, only to not fix problems when they arise.

Where I work currently doesn't have the highest end equipment available, and if I think you would be happier with something that I don't have or can't get, I will recommend you go elsewhere, just be carefull of who does your work.

I do wish there was a local group of people who would get together for "viewing parties" at each others places and watch movies in a friendly environment, but to also show off their own Home Theaters to each other. A little friendly "mine is better than yours" competition is a good thing, and every audiophile needs his fix at some point.

I am not saying where I work in here as I don't want it to seem as if I am advertising. If you are curious, pm me or something. IF you would like an honest opinion about something relating to home audio or car audio, please ask.

[Guru]

:clap::clap::clap: Welcome :clap::clap::clap:

[Kddn]

welcome aboard!!!:laugh:

[Scarlett O'Hara]

Welcome................don't even think about going to the casino..........I don't think it's even possible to come out a winner...........just stay away!!!!!!!!!!!

[Elle May]

Welcome and enjoy.

[pooker]

welcome i see where you said you build computers you got a special one ya been building or anything and specs , also you play warcraft?

[carsalesguy]

I am brutally honest about my opinion of sound equipment ( both home and car ), and idiots in the local industry who couldn't properly connect wires to a speaker, let alone attempt to do a whole installation. I cannot stand some people who will do in install for their customer, only to not fix problems when they arise.



hahahaha- you must have run into an install by stereo zone or sound advice- gotta love 'em

welcome to the forums

BTW i use extreme audio on west pine. Don was the manager at the hoopers here in the 'burg- always has the best prices and does the best installs on his equipment or yours.

[TheStereoGuy]

No I havn't built myself one since 2002, as this one has held up and ran every game I have put on it since then. Only the last 2 or 3 games that I have got has given it any trouble. I am planning to build one right around income tax time so that I can play the newer games.

I don't know of anyone else who has built a computer and got 5 years completely trouble free out of it. I havn't had a component in it fail yet.

I am not a big fan of RPG's so no Warcraft for me. At least not yet. Considering it.

[TheStereoGuy]

hahahaha- you must have run into an install by stereo zone or sound advice- gotta love 'em

welcome to the forums

BTW i use extreme audio on west pine. Don was the manager at the hoopers here in the 'burg- always has the best prices and does the best installs on his equipment or yours.


I have been doing installs for over 8 years, and am one of the only 2 MECP Advanced level certified installers in Hattiesburg ( 3 in the entire state that I know of ). The other is a good friend and former co-worker of mine. He is the ONLY other person I would recommend for an install anywere around here.

I should be Master Certified my the end of Feb., the only one in the state and 1 of less than 100 in the country.

[carsalesguy]

cool. i trust don with anything and everything. plus he hooks everyone up-

where is fotno_? he'll tell ya-

good luck on your certifications- hopefully your not like those PC guys who are certified and can't tell a power supply from a procesor

[TheStereoGuy]

Take pictures of your install, post it in this thread, and let me look. Make sure to get pics of under the hood at the amp wires, the mounting locations and such on. What kind of vehicle anyways?

What alot of people don't understand, is what they don't see. A good installer makes all his wire running look good, other installers only care about what is visible, and wont care about the rest. I can see an install that looks good to the untrained person, slide a radio out of the dash and find a rats nest of wires, and thats all that I need to tell me how good an installer is, or isn't.

One of the better known installers around the Hattiesburg area for years back was called Doc, Don knows him, they used to work together at HiFi Cruisin back in the day. Doc has about 15 years experience before leaving the industry. You really don't wanna know how much of his stuff I still fix to this day.

[Fishing Girl]

Welcome to the group!!!

[daisy]

Glad you found us. Welcome to My Hattiesburg. :clap:

[No-Halo]

Welcome aboard!! :clap:

[RGDoherty]

Welcome aboard stereo.

[Chichiguita]

Welcome! I'm glad you are here!

[mike_honcho]

welcome. i am also a installer.
could you please refraim from bashing other stores and installers. you never know whos on this forum. i know the owner of stereo zone is here.

[jkspatty]

Hello Welcome:smt001

[aaron]

Now we have a stereo guy? Great, I need some advice on what to put in my truck, my Kenwood just went out. Welcome to the forums!

[Sneaky]

Hey!

[threekidspa]

Hi and welcome! :wave:

[dream member]

Welcome!! :)

[hendrixfreak70]

Welcome!! :)


No, you re welcome!!!:clap:

[dream member]

No, you re welcome!!!:clap:

lol dork! You army guys...:smt118

A stereo fella who's honest...can you tell the guys at CC they suck?

[pooker]

i want a car alarm that blows people up when they touch it

[dream member]

SWEET!!!! I want one like that too pooker!!!

I want one that will shoot my enemies on sight!!!

[dream member]

Mike honcho - I didn't mean anything by that...I think I said it wrong...I was quoting what he said...that's awesome that he's honest! :) I just hate CC...they are NOT honest! :)

[dream member]

Wait...I know you...lol...I know exactly who I'm talking to!

I need you to fix my speakers - the ones I got from circuit are shot...AGAIN!!! lol

[TheStereoGuy]

Wait...I know you...lol...I know exactly who I'm talking to!

I need you to fix my speakers - the ones I got from circuit are shot...AGAIN!!! lol

Bring it on to me. You know I got it.

[dream member]

Bring it on to me. You know I got it.

SWEET!!!

[TheStereoGuy]

welcome. i am also a installer.
could you please refraim from bashing other stores and installers. you never know whos on this forum. i know the owner of stereo zone is here.


I don't mean to bash others just to be doing it. But I love the 12 volt industry. I am taking the time to train myself further, and learn all I can ( otherwise I wouldn't be trying to become Master Certified ). I am thinking about possibly going to one of the training schools next summer to improve my skills on some advanced techniques in installing. I would love it if all installers tried to better themselves. If I were working on a car, and came across something another installer did that I think was better than the way I do things, then I steal his idea's and make it my own. Anything to make myself better. I see some completely foolish work from some installers in the area, some that don't seem to care about what they are doing, and it gets my blood to boiling.

One bad installer, or bad business practices, gives a bad rap to all of us in the industry in this area, and hurts everyones business as potential customers would leave the area and go to Jackson or the coast to get things done.

If I see something that I think sucks, I will let it be known.

I get very annoyed by some of these kids these days that gets into installing for one reason, to buy a system for their own vehicle and discount, install it themselves ( for free basically ), and then get out of the business. In the meantime, they are destroying good peoples cars when they do some half ass installs.

Sorry for the rant.

[dream member]

I don't mean to bash others just to be doing it. But I love the 12 volt industry. I am taking the time to train myself further, and learn all I can ( otherwise I wouldn't be trying to become Master Certified ). I am thinking about possibly going to one of the training schools next summer to improve my skills on some advanced techniques in installing. I would love it if all installers tried to better themselves. If I were working on a car, and came across something another installer did that I think was better than the way I do things, then I steal his idea's and make it my own. Anything to make myself better. I see some completely foolish work from some installers in the area, some that don't seem to care about what they are doing, and it gets my blood to boiling.

One bad installer, or bad business practices, gives a bad rap to all of us in the industry in this area, and hurts everyones business as potential customers would leave the area and go to Jackson or the coast to get things done.

If I see something that I think sucks, I will let it be known.

I get very annoyed by some of these kids these days that gets into installing for one reason, to buy a system for their own vehicle and discount, install it themselves ( for free basically ), and then get out of the business. In the meantime, they are destroying good peoples cars when they do some half ass installs.

Sorry for the rant.


Stay OFF the coast! lol We didn't even have a mobile dept at my store...

[mike_honcho]

I don't mean to bash others just to be doing it. But I love the 12 volt industry. I am taking the time to train myself further, and learn all I can ( otherwise I wouldn't be trying to become Master Certified ). I am thinking about possibly going to one of the training schools next summer to improve my skills on some advanced techniques in installing. I would love it if all installers tried to better themselves. If I were working on a car, and came across something another installer did that I think was better than the way I do things, then I steal his idea's and make it my own. Anything to make myself better. I see some completely foolish work from some installers in the area, some that don't seem to care about what they are doing, and it gets my blood to boiling.

One bad installer, or bad business practices, gives a bad rap to all of us in the industry in this area, and hurts everyones business as potential customers would leave the area and go to Jackson or the coast to get things done.

If I see something that I think sucks, I will let it be known.

I get very annoyed by some of these kids these days that gets into installing for one reason, to buy a system for their own vehicle and discount, install it themselves ( for free basically ), and then get out of the business. In the meantime, they are destroying good peoples cars when they do some half ass installs.

Sorry for the rant.
im with ya. just letting you know that some of these people are on here.

[dream member]

im with ya. just letting you know that some of these people are on here.

True...I see what you're saying...sorry. However, wouldn't they want to know if there were people not doing their jobs though...like their employees and such? Similiar to what I told ya earlier...that scared the mess out of me! lol

[TheStereoGuy]

Now we have a stereo guy? Great, I need some advice on what to put in my truck, my Kenwood just went out. Welcome to the forums!

What kind of truck? Need make, model and year. Do you know the model of the Kenwood?

[RGDoherty]

Hey Stereo....do you install monitors in seat backs with DVD set ups?????

[TheStereoGuy]

Hey Stereo....do you install monitors in seat backs with DVD set ups?????

Used too, where I work at now doesn't allow us to cut the headrests of seats due to the way the warranty works. We have to be able to remove everything and return the vehicle to factory style without any indication any work was originally done.

There are companies who make factory fit and finish headrests with monitors pre-installed that work great, and can be removed and the factory headrests re-installed should the vehicle be sold or traded in.

[birthdaybunnie]

Welcome stereo guy, I hang out in Jones county too!!

[Maggie-Doodle]

:clap: Glad you joined! WELCOME to MH!

[RacnFan432011]

Welcome, I myself spent 12 years installing and owning a stereo shop. I got out and sold mine for the same reasons you posted, kids junking up the field. Yes you have a hand full that take great pride in their work but I no longer trust anyone with my autos.

[dream member]

After I had my speakers (in the doors) installed, I was driving down 98 and attempted to turn on the a/c...but it didn't work. I called to tell them what happened, I was so afraid they were going to deny doing anything. I guess they did something and the fan was off? Luckily, I brought it back and it was fixed...never again...never again!

[HubDoc]

Welcome to the site! Glad to have you!

[mike_honcho]

Used too, where I work at now doesn't allow us to cut the headrests of seats due to the way the warranty works. We have to be able to remove everything and return the vehicle to factory style without any indication any work was originally done.

There are companies who make factory fit and finish headrests with monitors pre-installed that work great, and can be removed and the factory headrests re-installed should the vehicle be sold or traded in.
no offence but, I have forgotting more than mecp can teach you. bb doesnt hire master intallers.

[TRIXR4KIDS]

Hi... Have fun !!!!!!

[TheStereoGuy]

no offence but, I have forgotting more than mecp can teach you. bb doesnt hire master intallers.

How long have you been installing and where do you work?

Best Buy does hire Master installers. I can name several of them right off the top of my head. One of the guys that co-authored the Master Study guide works for BB. One of them is a former teacher at the RITOP school in Flordia. Do you want to know how much BB pays Masters?? Hell, do you want to know how much they pay ME??